Follow Up: RULES OF ORIGIN DELAY AGREED

Leaving it until almost the last moment, the EU and UK have agreed to delay implementing the rules of origin legislation, which would’ve hit car makers in both Europe and Blighty. This was expected to happen and there was an almost audible sigh of relief from the car industry. You can find out more on this, by clicking the link here from Autocar.

MCLAREN SHARE RESTRUCTURE DEAL

The Bahrain sovereign wealth fund, Mumtalakat, has effectively become the sole owner of the McLaren Group after the complicated share structure was reorganised. This has prompted many to believe (or hope) that means future model development and the move to EVs can occur with some confidence. If you wish to read more on this, click here for Sky New’s version of the story.

VW DETAILS COST CUTS AS IT AIMS FOR $11B GAINS

Following extensive discussions with the works council, Volkswagen has announced its plans for saving that will net gains of $11 billion by 2026. Steps include speeding up development, a more efficient purchasing strategy and reducing staff costs. There will be no redundancies but vacancies may not be filled. To find out more on the latest strategy from VW, click this Reuters link here.

BYD TO BUILD CARS IN EUROPE

BYD has announced it will build cars in Hungary, where it will hope this is a work around for any potential tariffs for Chinese built cars. No date has been announced when the works will be completed and car will start coming off the production line. Click this Autocar article link for more.

NIO RECEIVES INVESTMENT FROM ABU DHABI

NIO, the battery swap EV company, has received $2.2 billion investment from a fund backed by CYVN Holdings. The company has been struggling and made a net loss of $2.03 billion in 2022. They announced they would be delaying entering the UK market, last year, with no date being given where that would change. To read more, click this Nikkei Asia article link here.

KIA ANNOUNCE NEW CEO OF EUROPE OPERATIONS

Marc Hedrich, the former Ford VW Group and Toyota executive, has been revealed as the new President and CEO of Kia Europe. He started his role on 1 January 2024. If you wish to find out more, click this link to a JustAuto article.

CAZOO NEEDS URGENT ADDITIONAL FUNDING

Cazoo, the online retailer, has declared that it needs urgent funding before the second half of 2024 to remain in business. You can read more, by clicking this link to an AMOnline article.

DAIHATSU PRODUCTION STOPPED AT JAPANESE PLANTS

Daihatsu has stopped all car production in its four Japanese plants, following revelations of falsifying safety and testing data. Toyota, the parent company, has declared that “fundamental reform” is needed at the company. This problem effects not just Daihatsu and Toyota but also Mazda, and Subaru models that the plants built. Click this Sky News article link for more.

STELLANTIS POSTPONES AGENCY MODEL MOVE IN UK

Maria Grazia Davino, Stellantis UK Managing Director, has paused the move to agency model contracts with dealerships after the breakdown in trust with the group. The recent National Franchise Dealers Association survey results had all of the Stellantis group companies at the bottom of the rankings, with poor value being cited as a major factor. Problems stem from combining FCA and PSA to form Stellantis. You can read more by clicking this link here from AMOnline.

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REVIEW OF 2023

The chaps run through the stories and topics that cropped up time and again over the course of 2023, on the show. For another look at 2023 you can click this link to an Autocar article.

MOTORING PODCAST PREDICTIONS FOR 2024

Alan and Andrew list their predictions for the coming year. Below is each of the selections.

Alan’s Predictions

Negative - New car registrations will struggle during the year, particularly the Private segment.

Positive - The EV public charging infrastructure will catch up during the year, particularly main road stations.

Silly / Wild Card - Tesla will unveil their long anticipated Tesla 2, which will have a launch price of $25,000.

Andrew’s Predictions

Negative - As it is an election year, motoring gets dragged deeper into the “culture wars” with more nutiness, lunacy and lies spouted.

Positive - Car makers will go for lightness and educating us about what ranges we actually need, so smaller batteries can be fitted.

Silly / Wild Card - People and organisations will give up on using flawed and incorrect data and information to make points or educate the public.

Follow Up: CRUISE FIRE NINE EXECS IN ACCIDENT AFTERMATH

Following the internal investigation by GM, into the incident where a pedestrian was dragged by a Cruise driverless vehicle, nine executives from the company have been sacked. Departments affected include Legal, Government Affairs, Commercial Operations and Safety and Systems. On top of that General Motors has stated that it is cutting 900 staff from the offshoot. Click here to read more, from The Register.

Follow-Up: FRANCE EV SUBSIDY ELIGIBILITY LIST PUBLISHED

France has published a list of electric vehicles that will be eligible for governmental subsidy, following the inclusion of production environmental calculations. Surprising no one, but Chinese made vehicles will not get financial help. This will come into force from 1 January 2024. You can read more, by clicking this link here to an electrive article.

FOLLOW UP: CLEVEDON WIGGLY LINES ROAD CHANGES AGAIN

An independent investigation into the controversial changes to Clevedon’s sea front has recommended reinstating some diagonal parking spaces. Many are still unhappy with this, wanting a return to the original layout before any changes were made. Additionally the council is investigating if they need to return the funding, if they make these changes, and how to pay for it. This link here, will explain more thanks to the BBC News article.

EU VOTES FOR CRITICAL RAW MATERIALS SECURITY LAW

With the push to electric vehicles the risk that the region could be held to ransom by other countries has pushed the EU Parliament to vote on bringing a law regarding critical raw materials. This will require up to 45% of recycling, as well as increasing the amount extracted in Europe. Click here to read more in an electrive article.

TESLA RECALL DUE TO AUTOPILOT FLAWS

Tesla has been forced to announce a recall for their Autopilot system in the US, which is the name for their driver assistance technology such as adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist and the likes. They are delivering it by an over-the-air update. The results are more frequent reminders for the driver to pay attention. To find out why this has happened, click this link to an electrive article.

For a bit of background to all of this, click this link to a Rolling Stone article written by Ed Niedermeyer.

CARIAD TO CUT COSTS INSTEAD OF JOBS

CARIAD, the software division of the Volkswagen Group, has agreed with unions to cut costs to prevent job losses. By 2028 there must be a reduction of costs of 20%. You can learn more by clicking this link to an Investing article.

GENERAL SAFETY REGULATIONS MANDATE MORE TECH

The new General Safety Regulations (GSR2) have been published. These tie together a few different regulations, into the one but also add more technology that must be fitted as standard on vehicles. This will obviously lead to a rise in costs. To find out more and exactly what must be fitted, click this article link from Autocar.

SCOTLAND TO INTRODUCE 20MPH URBAN LIMIT

Following in the footsteps of Wales, Scotland will be introducing a 20mph limit to “suitable” urban roads by 2025. More can learned by clicking this link to a TransportXtra article.

GREATER MANCHESTER CLEAN AIR ZONE INVESTMENT PLAN

In a move that will shock many, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has announced a plan to invest in technology and road schemes to ensure the region hits the air quality targets it needs to by 2026. He has stated this will not happen if they introduce a charge, which is the only tool so many other cities and regions use. To understand more, click this BBC News article link here.

SODIUM BATTERIES FAVOURABLE ALTERNATIVE STUDY FINDS

Chalmers University in Sweden has reported on their research that suggests sodium-ion batteries are a viable and better alternative to lithium-ion ones. The material is “abundant” according to them and thus is vastly better for the environment and from a cost perspective. This does not mention their durability or capabilities but it is encouraging, nonetheless. Click this electrive article link to learn more.

NEW ON-STREET CHARGING OPTIONS COMING TO ESSEX

Qwello, a German EV charging company, has won the bid to install 70 on-street chargers in Essex. Their chargers can also double as street lights. You can find out more by clicking this electrive article link here.

CABLE THIEVES HIT EV CHARGE POINTS

Three Osprey rapid charge points have been hit by cable thieves who have removed the charging cables thus rendering the units inoperable. They aren’t the only ones to be hit. One person has been arrested. Click this article link from Harborough FM to learn more.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE CAR PARKS HIT BY QR CODE SCAM

Cotswold Council is warning that no one should scan any QR codes on their car park payment machines due to a spate of illicit codes being fixed to the regions machines. You can learn more by clicking this BBC News article link here.

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NEW NEW CAR NEWS - Citroën e-Berlingo

Citroën has revised the e-Berlingo, with changes to the front end look, bringing it in line with the recently revealed e-C3. Also, the battery and motor technology has been improved, providing a range of up to 199 miles over the current 175. Click this Autocar article link to learn more about the car.

LEVC L380 EV

Another entry into the luxury MPV sector has arrived, this time thanks to the London Electric Vehicle Company - the latest black cab maker. There will be a choice of configurations, from eight seats to a more luxurious six. If you wish to learn more, click this Autocar article link here.

Old Car Dead News - Renault Zoe

After 11 years on sale, the Renault Zoe is being removed from the lineup. The company are citing that it is to make room for the Renault 5 EV but others within the company also confirm trying to make it comply with the latest GSR2 regulations would be prohibitively expensive. You can read more by clicking this Autocar link here.

LUNCHTIME READ: IF THE MIATA LOOKS HALF AS GOOD AS THIS CONCEPT I CAN’T WAIT

This week we return to the Japan Mobility Show, as Matteo Licata talks us through the gorgeous Mazda Iconic SP concept. One of the few bright sparks this year, in terms of car design, he explains a lot of the finer details and joins us in hoping this is very close to production ready. Click here to read the article from Hagerty.

LIST OF THE WEEK: 42 OF THE WORLD’S BEST POLICE CARS

A huge selection of fabulous looking police cars, from across the globe. Do not forget to tell the chaps your selection from the many, many options. Click here to see what they are, thanks to Top Gear.

AND FINALLY: FIRST POLE TO POLE DRIVE COMPLETED

Congratulations to Julie and Chris Ramsey for completing the first ever pole-to-pole drive and for doing it in a Nissan Ariya. Only modifications are to enable huge tyres to be fitted. Superb effort. Read more on this by clicking this Top Gear link here.

AND AND FINALLY: FESTIVAL OF THE UNEXCEPTIONAL 2024 TICKETS ON SALE

The Festival of the Unexceptional 2024 tickets are now on sale. Click this link to read more from Hagerty, also within the article is another link to take you to the sale site.

Follow Up - EU and UK Agree to 3-Year Rules of Origin Delay

UK and EU politicians have agreed to delay the introduction of EV Rules of Origin by three years—more details in this Autocar story.

Follow-Up - Tesla Vs. Nordic Unions - Unions Ahead

Tesla continues to rebuff cooperation with Nordic unions, making life hard for Tesla. The Guardian covers this in more detail in the story linked here.

New Car Registration Figures for November

UK new car registrations were slightly up in November, but the percentage of EVs is down slightly. Lots more and all of the numbers on the SMMT website.

UK Motorists Continue To Be Overcharged For Fuel

According to the RAC, the gap between wholesale and retail road fuel prices has narrowed but is still too broad. More here from Autocar.

Euro NCAP States The Obvious

Euro NCAP has declared that bigger, heavier SUVs present “safety concerns” to other drivers and pedestrians. Autocar explains more in this article.

Sixt Migrates to BYD EVs While Hertz Steps Back From EVS

Rental company Sixt is swapping Tesla for BYD after concerns about repair costs and residuals. Hertz is dialling back the speed with which it’s introducing EVs to its fleet. Jalopnik has more detail in this article.

More Government Money For New Motorway Rapid Chargers

UKGOV has set aside £70 million to fill the gaps in open-access motorway rapid and ultra-rapid chargers and ensure at least six chargers at each. Autocar has more detail here.

EV Charging Companies Continue Evolving To Try To Make Money

BP Pulse is expanding its rapid charger network, while Podpoint focuses on home and workplace chargers instead.

NEW NEW CAR NEWS - Suzuki Swift

Suzuki has unveiled a revised Swift. The outside is a bit rounder, and the interior has fewer buttons. Much more information is available from Autocar.

Morgan XP1

The Morgan 3-wheeler is a magnificent machine, and Morgan’s hard at work on an electric version. CAR magazine has lots more details here.

Stellantis Battery Swap Stations

Stellantis is considering introducing multi-brand battery swap stations, starting with the Fiat 500e in Madrid. Autocar has the full story.

LUNCHTIME READ: MEGA Yacht Builder Builds Mega Overlander

Yacht builders know something about squeezing luxury and clever storage into small spaces, so it was only a matter of time before one incorporated their skills into a vehicle. Arksen has unveiled their Unimog-based “Project Everest”. It’s fantastic, and Jalopnik has the details.

LIST OF THE WEEK: Top 10: Used Cars Everyone Should Own Once

Building on a recent LOTW in which Autocar named 50 cars everyone should drive once. This time, it’s ten cars everyone should own at least once. Here’s the list.

AND FINALLY: Frankel’s Favourite Car is a Tractor

Frankel’s a little slow to an obsession I’ve had since I was barely a teenager - small Japanese tractors. Here’s the story from Goodwood Road and Racing.

Follow Up - Volta Trucks Saved by Venture Existing Backers

UK-based Volta Trucks has been saved by a venture capital fund that had previously invested them. There’s more about this in the Autocar story linked here.

Follow-Up - Welsh Speed Limit Changes Cause Consternation

Some roads in Wales are now subject to many more changes of speed limit than before. This BBC story highlights one extreme example.

VW to Cut Jobs In Bid To Increase Competitiveness

The Volkswagen CEO has claimed that it is “no longer competitive” and will be taking advantage of the “demographic curve” to reduce staff numbers ahead of the previously-announced 2029 date for dismissals. More from Autocar here.

£20bm Investment Boost for UK Auto Manufacturing in 2023

The SMMT has announced the latest figures for investment in UK manufacturing as well as the government’s Advanced Manufacturing Strategy. There’s more about this on the SMMT website, linked here.

Call for “Euro-Kai Car” for small, urban EVs

In an effort to save the small car, European lobby group ACEA is pitching for legislation to encourage small, urban EVs. You can find out more in the Autocar story linked here.

Tuner Fined for Fitting Illegal Exhaust Mods

The DVLA has fined West Yorkshire tuner AET Motorsport for fitting a ”pop-bang” map and removing the catalytic converter from a Fiesta ST. Find out more in this Car article.

Geely & NIO sign Strategic Partnership on Battery-Swap Technology

Geely and NIO have signed a strategic partnership to develop battery standards, swapping technology, network expansion and development, swappable model development, and battery asset management. Big news, and you can read more in Geely’s press release here.

Induction Charging Road Installed in Detroit

An induction charging test road has been installed in Detroit to test the system's robustness in real-world conditions. Find out more in this article from Jalopnik.

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NEW NEW CAR NEWS - Dacia Bigster

Dacia has revealed their first model bigger than the Duster, a chunkily-styled 5-seat SUV available as a petrol mild and full hybrid. A competitor for the Ford Kuga and other, the Bigster is slightly larger, but expected to cost under £40,000 when it’s introduced tot he UK in 2025. Find out more in this article from Autocar.

Dacia Duster

At the same time as announcing the Bigster, Dacia has revealed the new 2024 Duster. More sophisticated than the current model, it offers more of the same value and practicality. There’s more detail and a video walk-around in this article from Car.

LUNCHTIME READ: Why GM’s GMT400 Truck Design Remains Legendary After 30 Years

In the week the Tesla Cybertruck was “delivered” to its adoring fans you can learn about the story behind one of the best-loking and enduring American pick-up trucks of the 20th and 21st Centuries in this article by Adrian Clarke for The Autopian.

LIST OF THE WEEK: The Car World’s Most Famous Design Flaws

In an ironic twist where the list itself is flawed, this week’s LOTW comes from Autocar and outlines some of the most well-known issues with cars. You can check it out and choose your favourite here.

AND FINALLY: Ad Break: The Rover 100 was a Limo in Miniature

Antony Ingram looks at print advertising for the Rover 100, inferring its limousine status in New York. You can read the article by clicking on this link to Hagerty UK.

NISSAN TO INVEST FURTHER IN SUNDERLAND PLANT

Nissan is investing a further £2 billion in their Sunderland facilities, with the confirmation that the next generation Qashqai and Juke, both to be electric only, will be built alongside the Leaf. If you wish to learn more, click this Autocar link here.

HYUNDAI BRINGS GENESIS OPERATION IN HOUSE

Hyundai UK is brining the administrative operations of the Genesis brand, in-house from early 2024. On top of this, there will be a move away from an online only presence with some showrooms being utilised. More can be read on this by clicking through on this Autocar link here.

JLR UPGRADES SECURITY ON OLDER MODELS

Older models from the Range Rover brand are being retrofitted with improved security, after a flaw has been exploited by thieves for several years. JLR has spent £10 million in fixing the issue and updating customer cars. Click here to find out more, from Autocar.

TOYOTA HILUX ADVERT BANNED

A Toyota Hilux advert that showed off the capabilities of the four-wheel drive pick up has been banned for being socially irresponsible, in the eyes of the Advertising Standards Agency. Watch out car makers, do not show your vehicles doing what they were designed for. Click this link to the AMOnline article, to find out more and also see a video showing you what is now deemed socially irresponsible.

PARIS TO VOTE ON WEIGHT BASED PARKING CHARGES

The Mayor of Paris has announced that Paris citizens will be given the opportunity to vote on basing parking charges on the weight of cars. Any internal combustion engined car over 1.6 tons or EVs over 2 tons, will be charged extra if the plans are approved. To find out more, click this electrive article link here.

INDUCTION CHARGING POSITIONING STANDARD AGREED

SAE International, the global standards organisation equivalent to BSi, has agreed upon an induction charge aliment standard, based on the Mahle solution. The German based company calls their system DIPS, Differential Inductive Positioning System. More can be read on this, by clicking this electrive link here.

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NEW NEW CAR NEWS - Peugeot e-3008

Peugeot has revealed their next generation 3008, whilst being an EV which is to be expected they have, unfortunately for fans of the current generation, decided to make it a coupe SUV. Brave move cutting off a huge chunk of your existing customer base by making it less practical and attractive to families. Click this Autocar link to find out more.

Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer Electric

If you do need a practical electric vehicle, then Vauxhall may have the car for you in the form of the Astra estate EV. With a maximum range of around 256 miles, prices start at £39,995 but top of the range is from £45k. You can see more, by clicking this Autocar link here.

Callum Skye

Callum design company has revealed their first bespoke vehicle, an electric 4x4 with wild rally raid-ish looks all in a small footprint. Plans are to build a small number and the price point aimed at is £100,000. We really like this and Alan is searching down the back of his couch for spare change as we speak. Click this Autocar article to find out more.

Hyundai Tucson

A face-lifted Tucson will be available from Hyundai in May 2024. Whilst we are struggling to spot any differences to the exterior looks, the inside is refreshed. The wide digital screen is now brought across from other vehicles in the range and the drive selector is mounted on the steering column. But most importantly, is the return of buttons and knobs for heating control. This Autocar article link will tell you more.

LUNCHTIME READ: FORD’S FAILED TAKEOVER OF ALFA ROMEO

Back in the 1980s Ford returned to Italy to try and buy one of their car companies, once again they failed. Click this Hagerty link to read more from Matteo Licata as he tells us what happened.

LIST OF THE WEEK: ELEVEN 21ST CENTURY HOT HATCHES WITH 1980S SPIRIT

Antony Ingram has compiled a list of hot hatches that evoke the spirit of the 1980s versions. As ever, expect a few odd ball suggestions, that are worthy of consideration. Click this Hagerty link to see your options and do tell the chaps which you’d go for.

AND FINALLY: AFFORDABLE UK MOTORSPORT

The HubNut YouTube channel brings you a cheap UK motorsport option, effectively autocross but in a quarry! Click this link to find out more and also see the video notes on how to find something near you. What a wonderful idea!

FOLLOW UP: BRITISHVOLT OWNER SERVED NOTICE ON UNPAID WAGES

An ex employee has served a legal notice on Recharge Industries, the “owner” of the failed battery manufacturer Britishvolt, for unpaid wages. If the money is not forthcoming, the firm could be pursued further with bankruptcy proceedings being an option. Click this link to read more from The Guardian.

FOLLOW UP: CRUISE HALTS ALL OPERATIONS AND CEO RESIGNS

Cruise has now halted all ride-hailing operations, even those with human safety drivers. On top of that Kyle Vogt has resigned as CEO of the company. Also departing is fellow co-founder Daniel Kan. You can see more by clicking this link to an article from The Register, which shows a timeline of recent events including the astonishing creation of a chief safety officer ten years after the company was formed.

TESLA HITTING A UNION WALL IN SWEDEN

Tesla is refusing to allow a Swedish union to use a ‘collective bargaining agreement’, with the members of the IF Metall union in their repair centres. They have been trying to get the company to do this for five years. They are now on strike and as is the way in Sweden, other unions are showing their support by refusing to do work with or for Tesla. You can find out more, by clicking this link to an Associated Press article.

UK GOVERNMENT PLEDGES CASH TO FIX SOME POTHOLES

The UK Government has made a big announcement at how they are allocating some of the money that would have been spent on HS2 to fixing some of the potholes on our roads, over the next eleven years. Unfortunately, as Paul Lomax makes clear, it is a drop in an ocean of underfunding, which you can read more by clicking this Twitter thread here, for context. To find out more on this story, click this Autocar link here.

UK GOVERNMENT INVESTS IN EV AUTO INDUSTRY

The UK Government also announced that it is assigning £2 billion to help the automotive industry transition to the new zero emission market. However, as the chaps and the Business and Trade Select Committee in Parliament point out, this is welcome but where is the strategy or this is just throwing money without a plan. If you wish to learn more, click this link from Autocar Professional.

AMAZON US TO SELL CARS FOR HYUNDAI ONLINE

Amazon and Hyundai announced that they will team up to sell cars online in the United States, from late 2024. Full details have yet to emerge, including how will full prices be declared. On top of that, Hyundai will be adding Alexa to their new cars from 2025. Click this BBC News article link for more.

MERSEYSIDE POLICE USE CAMERAS TO CATCH TRAFFIC OFFENCE VIOLATIONS

Merseyside police are using a camera system that spots if drivers are using a mobile phone with their hands or occupants do not have their seatbelts on. To clarify, it is not “AI” it is image recognition. More can be learned by clicking this BBC News article link here.

M49 GHOST JUNCTION GIVE LEASE OF LIFE

The M49 has a junction on it that leads to no where as the access roads were not built in 2020. However, the UK Government has agreed to fund £7 million to help enable the works to be completed. Click this BBC News article link to find out more.

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NEW NEW CAR NEWS - Subaru Forester

At the LA Motor Show the new Subaru Forester was revealed. Essentially a heavy facelift, but expected with a new hybrid powertrain when it comes to the UK. Whilst details are sparse, the price is expected to increase and be £40,000 or slightly more. Click this CAR article to read more.

Polestar 5

Also from LA, Polestar revealed their new range topping car, the 5. A large saloon, with oodles of power and space, that is being engineered in the UK. Details can be found by clicking this link here to an Autocar article.

Porsche brings Google apps to their cars

Porsche is u-turning on their previous decision not to allow Google apps in their cars, for privacy reasons, as the issues with Group in-house CARIAD software continues. To learn more, click this link from The Verge.

Toyota steer-by-wire system

Toyota will be bringing their steer-by-wire system to the bZ4X and Lexus RZ in 2024, meaning a yoke-style steering wheel can be used. The One Motion Grip (stop sniggering) as the system is named, with have a 200 degree ratio, which is a tweak on the 150 degree previously for a more natural feel. Click here to read more from an Autocar article.

LUNCHTIME READ: THE ESCORT COSWORTH IS A LEGENDARY RALLY MACHINE THAT’S HIDING A BIG SECRET

The Autopian brings us the story of how the Escort Cosworth came to be, especially from such seemingly humble origins. Fantastic read that is well worth checking out, which you can do by clicking this link here.

LIST OF THE WEEK: THE HERO CARS OF THE 1980S

Autocar has compiled a list of, what it claims, are hero cars of the 1980s. They ask if we agree and we do not, in all instances. But there are a host to pick from, which you can check out by clicking this link here. Don’t forget to tell the chaps your choice.

AND FINALLY: THE HOT WHEELS LEGENDS TOUR 2023 WINNER

We, once more, bring you the Hot Wheels Legends Tour 2023, as they now announce the overall winner that will be made into a model for their range. Click this Top Gear link to read more and see some of the astonishing details of the car, making it a worthy winner.

FOLLOW UP: RENAULT FINALLY CREATES AMPERE

Renault has finally announced the creation of Ampere, the new division responsible for developing their EVs, circular economy and software for the Group. At the time of recording there was no mention of the IPO that was discussed when first announcing the entity. Click this electrive article to read more.

FOLLOW UP: RIVIAN ENDS EXCLUSIVITY DEAL WITH AMAZON

Rivian and Amazon have announced that the exclusive deal to supply the retail giant with electric vans is no more. Amazon were pulling down far fewer vehicles than expected, therefore Rivian needs to open its books up to more companies to ensure the business is viable. To read more, click this link here to an electrive article.

AUTOMATED VEHICLE BILL ANNOUNCED IN KING’S SPEECH

During the opening of Parliament, King Charles III’s speech announced the plan to introduce the automated vehicle bill. This has taken several years and multiple public consultations. Key elements will be who is held responsible and in which situations, along with companies being held responsible for exaggerating their system’s capabilities. The devil will be in the detail, however. If you would like to learn more or possibly just read some utter tripe quoted, click firstly this link to an Autocar article and then try this link from Top Gear.

BMW TO LAUNCH UK ‘HANDS FREE EYES ON’ SYSTEM IN 2024

BMW is bringing a system that humans cannot handle, with their Level 2+ ‘Motorway Assist’. This is, similar to Ford’s BlueCruise, that requires the driver to continue to watch the road even though they are not holding the steering wheel. To repeat ourselves, there are many studies that show humans cannot manage this task, but that is not stopping the deployment and that the driver will still be help responsible for something they are being set up to fail. To read more on this, click on this Autocar link here.

UK TESLA OWNER REIMBURSED FOR FAILED FSD PROMISES

Using the Consumer Rights Act 2015, Ed Butler claimed that Tesla had breached their contract with him in not producing the promised Full Self Driving enhancements after he paid extra for the package. Tesla settled out of court, paying the original sum plus interest and legal costs. Click here to read more, from InsideEVs.

ASTON MARTIN INVESTOR INCREASES STAKE IN COMPANY

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has returned to being the number two investor in Aston Martin, just ahead of Shufu Li, Geely Chairman. This continues the incremental increases from the three major shareholders, who all appear locked in some sort of bizarre game. You can learn more by clicking this link to an Automotive News Europe article.

EDINBURGH BANS PAVEMENT PARKING

Edinburgh Council are bringing in a new rule to ban pavement parking, even though there is a law that makes it illegal to obstruct a pavement already. We are unsure how adding a new rule to something that isn’t being dealt with will help alleviate the issue, but there you go. If you wish to know more, click this BBC News article link here.

MAINE VOTES FOR RIGHT-TO-REPAIR LAW

The citizens of the US state of Maine have voted for a right-to-repair law to be made part of the legislature. This is the fifth state to bring such a law into place. Click this link to read more from The Verge.

US COURT RULES CAR MAKERS CAN INTERCEPT TEXT MESSAGES

A court in the US state of Washington, has ruled that four car makers did not break the state’s privacy laws by intercepting and keeping owner’s text messages. This reiterates how messed up the US is, when it comes to privacy. Put this alongside the recent report from Mozilla about car data and it paints quite a bleak picture. You can learn more by clicking this link from The Record.

US INFRASTRUCTURE BILL REQUIRES CAR ‘KILL SWITCH’

More of the press are picking up on what some spotted last year, when the Infrastructure Bill was announced, that from 2026 cars must be fitted with a ‘kill switch’. This is supposed to spot if the driver is impaired or incapable of driving safely and stopping the vehicle automatically. This is going to be quite the feat as the technology does not exist that can a) safely pull a car over in all conditions and b) spot if someone is impaired. If you would like to learn more, click this link to The Gentleman Racer who was discussing this in January 2022.

BLOODHOUND PROJECT SEEKS NEW DRIVER

As the Bloodhound project brushes the dust of itself and seeks new funding for a sustainably fuelled attempt at the land speed record, they are also looking for a new driver. To find out more, click this link from Autocar.

ULTRA RAPID CHARGING POINTS FOR STARBUCKS

Some Scottish Starbuck locations will be getting ultra rapid charging points, thanks to a partnership between the coffee shop and FOR:EV. Click here to learn more, from electrive.

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NEW NEW CAR NEWS - Volvo EM90

Volvo has revealed the EM90, a luxury MPV along the lines of the Lexus LM we discussed a few weeks ago. This will be an all electric vehicle based closely on the Zeeker 009, with a potential for up to 458 miles of range. To learn more about the details, click this link to an Autocar article.

Volkswagen ID.7

VW has revealed more details and the price of the ID.7, which will start at £55, 570. Lower specification versions, as well as an estate, are expected to follow the launch model. For all the details, click this link from Autocar.

Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe

Mercedes are replacing the C and E coupes with one model, the CLE. This will come in a host of configurations, trim levels and engine options. Prices start at £46, 605. If you wish to learn more, click this Autocar link here.

Rivian Electric Van

Following the end of the exclusivity deal with Amazon, Rivian are now open to new fleets. But what are the vans all about? Click here to find out the details thanks to The Autopian.

Nissan Electric Car Subscription Service

We missed it at the time but Nissan started a subscription service for their electric vehicles. Click this link from Fleet News to find out more.

LUNCHTIME READ: THE ALFA ROMEO 33 STRADALE STORY

Matteo Licata brings us yet another history lesson, this time all about the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale’s difficult birth. To read this fascinating story, click the link here from Hagerty.

LIST OF THE WEEK: 10 HOT WHEELS LEGENDS TOUR FINALISTS

The finalists have been found for the 2023 Hot Wheels Legends Tour, where the overall winner will be selected. They are all pretty amazing. Click this link from Top Gear to see more. Do you agree with Alan’s choice?

AND FINALLY: THE RIMAC NEVERA HAS A WORLD RECORD BACKWARDS

The Rimac Nevera now holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest car in reverse, with a speed of 171mph. That is utterly nuts. Click this link, from EVO, to find out more about all this.

FOLLOW UP: BRITISHVOLT STAFF NOT PAID FOR MONTHS

Recharge Industries, the company that has bought Britishvolt, although not finalised payment yet, has not paid UK staff for the last four months. Once again, the poor staff let down by management. If you would like to read more, including how much belief employees have in the assurances given, click this BBC News article link here.

FOLLOW UP: JLR PARTS ISSUE TO LAST INTO 2024

JLR have confirmed that they are improving the repair parts backlog, they’re experiencing. With the steps being made, they anticipate getting back on track in 2024. The issue has been acknowledged by CEO Adrian Mardell. To read more, click this Jalopnik article link here.

FOLLOW UP: TESLA NOT FOUND LIABLE FOR MODEL 3 CRASH

A jury has decided that Tesla and their Autopilot software are not responsible for the accident that led to the driver’s death and passenger injuries, back in 2019. The claim was the software was faulty, there are arguments that how lawyers are pursing such cases is flawed and will ensure they never win such cases. If you want to read more about the case, click this article link from The Register. To find out more about why Michael DeKort thinks the legal cases are destined to fail, click this LinkedIn post link.

OCTOBER 2023 NEW CAR REGISTRATION FIGURES

The SMMT published the figures of the new car registrations for October 2023. A big jump in registrations over all, but BEVs only managed to capture 15% market share, which is less than in previous months. Another concern, for the industry, is how reliant they now are on Fleet registrations as Private remained the same as last year. Click here to read more, from the SMMT.

SMMT CONNECTED AND AUTOMATED MOBILITY REPORT

Sticking with the SMMT, they published a report based on KPMG research in to the potential connected and automated mobility aspects of the industry. Whilst a lot of it is incredibly optimistic in terms of potential earnings, impact and job creation, one chart caught Alan’s eye regarding which could be the sectors fastest and most likely to become automated and take advantage of connectivity. To learn more, click this link from the SMMT.

DRIVERLESS FIFE BUS NOW DRIVEN BY A HUMAN DRIVER

The bus that runs between Ferrytoll Park and Ride near Inverkeithing and Edinburgh Park, which is testing an autonomous driving system now is being fully driven by a human driver. You can read more, by clicking this link to a The Courier article.

jLR POSTS RECORD REVENUES

In the last quarter, JLR posted record revenue figures as demand for the Range Rover Sport and Defender was strong. Nice to be able to say something positive about JLR. Click here to read more, via The Guardian.

EDINBURGH COUNCIL TO CONSIDER SUV BAN

Edinburgh Council’s transport and environment committee has agreed to consider if SUVs should be banned from some roads in the city. Some of the tired cliched and false tropes were wheeled out, unfortunately. The chaps do point out the fallacies in some of what was said. You can read more, by clicking this link here to a BBC News article.

LIVERPOOL TO INVEST £10M TO INCREASE EV CHARGERS

On-street charging will get a boost in the Liverpool areas as £10 million is being earmarked to increase the number of chargers. If you would like to read more, click this electrive link here.

ARRIVA ORDERS 34 MORE EV DOUBLE DECKER BUSES

Arriva has order 34 more electric double decker buses, for its London fleet. This will take their number to over 100 for the operator. Click this electrive article link for more.

If you like what we do, on this show, and think it is worth a £1.00, please consider supporting us via Patreon. Here is the link to that CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

NEW NEW CAR NEWS - Toyota Prius

In a surprise move, Toyota is brining the latest Prius to the UK after disappointing the internet by saying it wasn’t. We hope you all go out and buy it or we won’t get nice things in the future! You can read more, by clicking this Autocar article link here.

Skoda Superb

Skoda are updating the Superb, which will be slightly longer, wider, bigger inside, nicer, have more tech, essentially betterer than before! A huge range of powertrains and spec levels. Once again, we need to buy the estate or companies will stop making them. Click this link, to read more from Top Gear.

Hyundai Ioniq 5 N

The first EV from Hyundai to get the N treatment is an odd choice, it being the Ioniq 5. Alan and Andrew both love the comfort, serene cabin and ride, hence their surprise this will get oodles of power and get the N Grin Boost mode. Prices start at £65,000 for the performance version, with the chaps reserving full judgement until they get the opportunity to try one out. Click here to find out more, thanks to CAR.

Aston Martin DBX

Aston Martin are refreshing the interior of the DBX which has mainly remained the same since first coming to market. Out goes the Mercedes derived infotainment, to be replaced by Aston’s own. If you wish to learn more, click this Autocar link here.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate

Mercedes have revealed the details for the latest E-Class estate. For some bizarre reason, the UK mainly only gets the sporty trims, with associated ride. Click this Business Car article link, to learn more.

LUNCHTIME READ: AKIDO TOYODA’S STILL PLAYING THE LONG GAME

Road & Track have a fascinating and rare interview with Akido Toyoda regarding his time in charge of the company. Even if you are not a fan of his or Toyota’s this is an insight into why decisions that have been made have and the reasons behind them. Click here to read more.

LIST OF THE WEEK: SEMA 2023

CAR has listed their highlights of the US modification motor show, which Andrew picks his top of the pile from. To see what options you have to pick, click this link here. Don’t forget to tell the chaps what you would want.

AND FINALLY: TOYOTA LUNA CRUISER

Toyota has revealed a concept for a lunar buggy, that would be part of a Japanese landing on the moon. We think it looks great, click this link here to read more from Top Gear.

To watch a short video, click this YouTube link.

FOLLOW UP: CRUISE PAUSES DRIVERLESS TAXI SERVICE

Both Califoria’s Department for Motor Vehicles and Public Utilities Commission have revoked Cruise’s license to carry fee paying passengers in their robotaxis. Cruise, following this, has “paused” the operation of their fleet. This all stems from an incident on 2 October 2023, where a car driven by a human hit a pedestrian and they were knocked into the pathway of one of Cruise’s cars which could not stop in time and trapped the pedestrian underneath the vehicle.

The DMV claims Cruise shared partial video that showed up to the point of the vehicle stopping. However, the DMV now states there was more as they were not shown that the Cruise vehicle tried to move to the side of the road with the lady still trapped beneath the car.

The DMV stated that “the manufacturers vehicles are not safe for public operation”.

To read more click this Vice article link here.

For the next stage of the story, click this Tech Crunch article link here.

To read the DMV’s own documentation on their decision, click this link here.

For Cruise’s Twitter post regarding their pause, click this link.

Forbes have a thoughtful piece on what has happened and what Cruise can and should do next. To read that, click this link here.

FOLLOW UP: MERCEDES USER MANUAL FOR DRIVE PILOT

Mercedes-Benz has now released the user manuals for their Drive Pilot Level 3 automated driving system. Looking at the documentation there are a number of inconsistencies and contradictions. Click this link to a piece from Philip Koopman on LinkedIn highlighting the issues in the text. Reading the information, we wouldn’t use the system as we have no idea if we would be held accountable or Mercedes, in the event of an issue.

STELLANTIS TO SELL LEAPMOTOR VEHICLES IN EUROPE

Following a £1.3 billion investment in the Chinese EV maker, Leapmotor, Stellantis will start selling their vehicles in Europe from 2024. No details have been revealed as to what models they would be. We also ask if it is the technology side of things that Stellantis is really after. You can read more, by clicking this link to an Autocar story.

RAC STATES FUEL PRICES ARE UNFAIRLY HIGH

The RAC has explained that all fuel retailers should be lowering their prices by at least 5p per litre, thanks to the drop in wholesale costs. They also point out how this is helping to ensure that inflation remains high. If you would like to read more, click this TopGear article link here.

VOLKSWAGEN TO CUT THOUSANDS OF JOBS

Volkswagen has announced that CARIAD, the software division of the VW Group, will bear the brunt of job loses that the board has agreed can take place. On top of that, the update software for their car’s operating systems is to be delayed 16 to 18 weeks. That is not the end of the bad news, as the next generation OS, 2.0, is being rewritten therefore the deployment in 2025 looks unlikely, at best. Click this Reuters article link here, to learn more

VOLVO TO ALSO BUILD EX30 IN EUROPE

Following the political statements from both Europe and China, Volvo has take the prudent step of declaring that their Ghent factory will also build the EX30, from 2025. Previously all production was expected to come from China. To learn more, click this AMOnline article link here.

JLR TO BUILD EVS AT NITRA PLANT

In a move that should surprise no one, JLR has announced that they will transform their Nitra Plant, in Slovakia, to be able to build electric vehicles by 2030. This is their newest site, which opened in 2018 and has built over 365,000 Discovery and Defender vehicles. Click this Autocar link to read more.

TOYOTA HYDROGEN FOCUS TURNS TO COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

Toyota has announced that it will be moving its focus, for the development of hydrogen vehicles, from private cars to commercial vehicles. They say, following world wide experiments, that the lack of infrastructure is the stumbling block for private owners. To read more, click this Autocar link here.

If you like what we do, on this show, and think it is worth a £1.00, please consider supporting us via Patreon. Here is the link to that CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

NEW NEW CAR NEWS - Mercedes-AMG GLE 53

Another week another SUV coupe (and regular SUV in the case) being updated, this time from Mercedes-AMG. A 3.0 litre straight-six engine will be mated with a hybrid system, for the first time. The PHEV version will do around 50 miles on electric drive alone. For more information, including the dizzying number of powertrain choices and outputs, click this link to read an Autocar article.

Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV

Follow the confusion, last week, for the chaps and the naming system of Audis, Mercedes steps up to the plate to befuddle Andrew and Alan. The EQS SUV is getting a better battery and improved efficiency. Later next year, the EQS saloon will also get this. Yes, for some reason Merc EVs don’t follow the convention of SUVs having a ‘G’ designation. Sigh. Anyway, if you want to learn more, click this Autocar article link here.

Hyundai Ioniq 5 N

The first EV from Hyundai to get the N treatment is an odd choice, it being the Ioniq 5. Alan and Andrew both love the comfort, serene cabin and ride, hence their surprise this will get oodles of power and get the N Grin Boost mode. Prices start at £65,000 for the performance version, with the chaps reserving full judgement until they get the opportunity to try one out. Click here to find out more, thanks to CAR.

Ferrari 296 Challenge

Ferrari has revealed their new car for the FIA-homologated own brand championship that takes place in North America, Europe, Japan and the UK. Obviously not road legal, but quicker and better than the outgoing 488 Challenge Evo. This is based on the 296 car, but with the hybrid system removed so it is relatively light too. If you want to find out more, click this CAR article link here.

Ferrari 499P track car

If the 296 Challenge is not exclusive enough for you, Ferrari think they have you covered. For a mere £4.6 million (plus VAT) you can get ACCESS to a derestricted 499P hypercar, based on the Le Mans winning vehicle. This access is in the form of nine racing events a year, for two years, at specific tracks that Ferrari designates. For those with incredibly deep pockets and an urge to race behind closed doors, click this Autocar article link to find out more.

LUNCHTIME WATCH: AUTOSHENNANIGANS TRACKS DOWN THE “F1” CAR THAT APPEARS IN HIS M8 VIDEO

Following the release of the M8 video, on the Autoshennanigans YouTube channel, many have mentioned and asked about what appeared to be a yellow F1 car that was in a drone shot. Well, John tracked down the owner who agreed to appear on the show and talk about that car and others he’s owned. Do enjoy, which you can do by clicking this link here.

LIST OF THE WEEK: THE TRIUMPHS AND DISASTERS OF NAMEPLATE REVIVALS

Alan chooses one model name that has been resurrected which seems to have gone well, whilst others on the list have not. Have a check of this Autocar link to see if any stick out to you. Don’t forget to tell the chaps which one you selected.

AND FINALLY: BELGIUM STUDENTS WIN SOLAR RACE DOWN UNDER

A student team from Leuven, in Belgium, has won the Australian Solar Race, with their innovative design that carefully married aerodynamics with a large surface area to fix the maximum number of solar panels too. On top of that they added a sail, which helped with stability and occasionally propulsion, if the wind was in the right direction. Click this Autoevolution to read more.

JAPAN MOBILITY SHOW 2023

Alan and Andrew are rounding up the motoring element of the Japan Mobility Show 2023, which is the replacement for the Tokyo Motor Show. The organisers have expanded the remit and potential audience. There are stands about everything from wheelchairs to private jets and all things between.

TINY CARS

As this is Japan you can imagine just how many tiny and kei cars there were. We have picked only a small fraction to discuss.

Honda CI-MEVDaihatsu ME:MoDaihatsu UNIFORM Truck and UNIFORM CargoDaihatsu CopenSPORTS CARS

In selecting all the cars that are in here, some stretching of the definition of “sports” has occurred. Do bear with us as we try to explain why the choices that have been made, have been made.

Honda PreludeMazda Iconic SPHonda Sustania-CToyota FT-3eToyota FT-SeNissan Hyper ForceELECTRIC SUVS

As you would expect, there was a lot of electric SUVs on display. Here we have picked some of the more interesting ones, to our eyes.

Nissan Hyper PunkNissan Hyper Adventure Toyota Land Cruiser SeToyota EPUFEEDBACK

As this is only the second time we have tried to do this multimedia style approach, where we are showing what we discuss (if your player can display the photos), we would like your feedback. We know there are things to improve, but if you could let us know if the efforts we have gone to are okay or not, that would be great.